wheeler hubbell



W. WHEELER HUBBELL,` OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'Y TOHIMSELF AND JAMES H. ORN E, I 0F THE SAME PLACE. Lettera Patent No.65,812, dated June 18, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEECH-LOADING fhlt-ARMS.`

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN;

`Bc it known that I, WILLIAM WHEELER HUBBELL, of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBreech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a.full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to theaccompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon. i

`'.Ihe nature of my invention consists in the construction andcombination of breech-pieces and their appli` ances, operating togetheras hereinafter described, to load, enclose, re, and eject thecartridge-shell.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now proceed to describe its construction andoperation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing', lwhichforms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of sucient of a. fire-arm to illustrate myimprovements.v

Figures 2 and 3, the same with the breech-pieces and other appliances indifferent positions.

,e Figure 4, a plan view.

Figure 5, a sectional plan. Figure 6, a section of partiof the tire-arm,with the breech-piece removed. Figure 7, a view of ono side of the mainbreech-piece. Figure 8, a transverse section on the line 1-2, iig. 1.Figure 9, the same, on the line 3 4. Figure 10, the same on the line 56, fig. 1. Figure 11, the same on the line 7-8, fig. 3. Figure 12, adetached sectional vievr, showing the rear strikers and bevel faces.Figure 13, a sectional view of' a modification of the lire-arm. Figure14, a. plan view of tig. 13. v Figure 15, a sectional view of anothermodification of the invention. Similar letters refer to similar partsthroughout'the several views. It shouldV be stated in the outset thatall the figures, excepting those marked 12 and 13, refer to myimprovements as adapted to the alterations ot' any ordinary Springfieldriie; the remaining figures illustrating my improvements as arranged inconstructingvan cntirely-new-fire-arm.

On reference to figs. 1 to 12 inclusive, A represents the rear of thebarrel of an ordinary Springfield rifle,- provided atthe end with theusual screw-plug a. In the top of this barrel, from the point a: to thepointy, Eg. 1, is!" cut an elongated opening, so as to form u recess forthe breech-pieces and other appliances, described hereafter. Thebreech-piece consists of two sections, B and C', the former of which Ishall term the hinged breech, und the latter the sliding breech. Thebreech-piece B ts in the recess formed in the barrel, and is hinged tothe same by the pin b, the rounded rear c fitting snugly but so as toturn freely and bear firmly in a concave M' recess formed in the frontend ofthe screw-plug a. l i

`The sliding-breech C has in fr'ont a circular projection, d, adapted tothe rear of the bore of thc barrel, where the latftcr is enlargcdindiameter, and covers the head 8 of the cartridge H, and the rear face eof thc breech is hollowed and adapted to` the rounded front endf of thehinged breech B, as seen in iig. 1, the line of junction of the twobreeches forming the segment of a circle drawn from the centre' ofthepin b.

The front end of the lznecch` B has a. projection, g, which, when in theposition shown in iig. 1, is nearly in contact with the top of thebreech C', there being lips h, one on each side of the projection g,iig. 9, to be grasped'between the ng'r and thumb, when the saidbreech-piece B has to be elevated.

A longitudinal recess, h', is cut in the breech-piece B, and acoinciding recess, t', in the sliding-breech C' for the reception of thelink D, which is jointed to the latter breech by s. pn,j, and the rearend of which has j a curved slot, k, for the reception of avpin, Z, onthe breech B. This slot k, when the breeches and link are in theposition shown in g. 2, forms the segment of a circle described from thecentre of the pin b. It may be slotted horizontally instead ofvertically, with the same e`ect.

On each side of the Sliding-breech C is a shoulder, m, gs. 9 and 11,bearing against the under edge of a y. la," l

rib, 1t", formed in the inside, and lon ycach side oik the recessie thebarrel, seas to keep the said sliding-breech down to itsplace, andprevent itfrom Amoving in any other than'a longitudinal direction. Theseribsw are towards the rear of tho'recess in the barrel, and are formedby the extension forward of two detachable cheek Ypieceslid E, vonesecured to one sido, and the other to the opposite side of .the recess,and secured to the' same,

partly by the piu b, partly by confinement between the rounded end ofthebreech Band the recess, and partly by small set-screws q, g. 6. I

On withdrawing thepin b, and detaching the check-pieces, b oth breechesmay be removed, :ne breech C being'rais'd vertically from the recess iuthe barrel. In the inside of the barrelsv recess, and in one side of thesame, is cut a longitudinal groove, 4, figs. 5 and 6', for thefreceptionand guidance of the retractingfbar G, which has'two projections, :5`nd6, the formeriiitting into an elongated recess, 9, tig. 5, in one sideof the breech C', and'the latter projecting into the bore of `thebarrel, so that it maybe in front of the liange S of the metal 'casocartridge II, In an opening, p, in thev bottom of the recess of thebarrel, is hung -the arm F, which, when the breechvBis depressed, asshown in iig. 1, occupies'the position shown by dotted lines in thatligure, but when the breech B is elevated, andthe breech C consequentlymoved back, a. lip, 2, on the latter breech, comes in contactwithfaprcjectiom 8, on the arm, and.' elevates the latter te thepesitionshown in iig. 3. Its front end is wider than its projection 3 and theslot 3', so `asnctto catch in thelatter.

The breech B.is. a trifle narrower. than the middle part di' the'recessi n the bar-rel below the ribs n', exceptingaqone pointwherc Lthere areribst, fig. 7, one oneach side. of the said breech, there beingon eachside oi' the {harrclfs recess, betweefuthe front'. ends of t h e ribs nof Ythe cheek-pieces E-and the rear ends of lthe ribs n ofthefbarrel,tig,6, spaces'iv, which receive the -ribs t, which,'wl1en-thebreech is down, just touch the sides of the recess, and proven-tall-lateral Amovement c ifthejbreech.'` These, spaces w are vfor thepurpose of admitting ythe angc-ofthc cartridge, reely t0 thcrcarftheel-iced 6 .of ',t-heretractingbar,si'hizh occupies a position undertheazea'rend oithe; ribJiQfas in fig; 3,"to insure the flange oi' theshellrfalling in -behind this retraotingdiead 8; the rear-end-ft'lrbarfliaving borne against the rear end of" the slot 4, theb'e'ech-piece'C leaving it in that position when ithaddrawu -the head'orfan'ge ofthe shell just past the rear end otthe barrel rib n', andthen the-breech Gl, tn'king u'p the arm F, causes it to cast the shellupwards out of the-recess of tlie'barrel, so that it mayfall outerbe'oaught'between the fingers and picked out. A. spring`Bday-bear'underneath on the rear endfofthelfarm F andY set it downagain. `IIhe ribs 'n' are only wide enough apart to allow thecylindrical bodyA Y of the shell and the bullet to passb'twccn them.A

'The detenute-is in the present instance situated in the centre ofthe'rear of the cartridge, and is struck by means of a'pi'nQI, passingobliduely'tliro'ugh the'breech C', its rear ond coinciding with thefront end of a, pin, Il, passing ohliquel'yvthroughthe breech B, nnd c oin i ding third pin, 12, passing through the metal of .the rear of thebarrel it'souter enualivays being in such a position as tolle-struck bythe hammer of a lock situated-in thesaule position'as'thatofa ordinarySpringfield ride. Whenthe shell is primed in the rim, the strikers I andI, lof course, are extended to the lower edge'oflthe flange to the.right of the lip 2, to impinge on the fulminate. v e n l In arecessonons'sideof the breech B'- isa spring-catch lever, K, having aprojection, iig. 7, to Et into a notchin one side of thevrccgessr` ofthe'barrel, (shown in dotted lines in iig, 4,) so as to lock the breechB to the same-when depressed; :theoutcruendcf the catch-lever beingturned upwards, so as to be Within reach of, and to-be compressed by,the fore-finger, when the front end of the breech B is seized betweenthe finger and thumb prior to being elevated. The springmay lock forwardinto the breech C.

YFigs. 13 and'b represent a.fire-arm, made especially for myimprovements. In this case'a recessed frame, is made for the receptionofl the two breeches'and their appliances, and. fcr connection to thestock of the Ere-arithe'rearof the-barrel-bein-g screwed into the frontof the frame or else made solid together` in one picce,and thehanimcbeing so situate'd'cs tostrike asingle oblique pin, I, passingthrough the sliding breech Onlyfinbrdernte communicate with thedetenute. In other respects the construction and arrangement andoperation ofthe breaches and theirr appliances are similar to thosedescribed above.

Fig. l5`is Similar t'olg. 1, with thejoint c made flush on top. To makethe top ofthisjoint of the breech B iiush with the to ofthe barrel, thecentre ofthe shaft b is placed above the axis-of the bore, and theourves fand e extended up correspondingly, detracting as much from .theb'asc of the curvef byincreasing the bevel,Y

shown on its lower edge, to make it clear the face e with the sameextent of slot k. This does not'change the principle or aetion,-butenables the `joint to be made level with the barrel when the breech-pinmisused.

There is a'slot cut from the rear of the slot 9 in the breech C.downward, of suilicient size to admit the projection 5 on the bar G, soas to insert it in place, or-drop the breech C down into the recess inputting the parts together, iig. 5. The breech-block C may have twoheads d to fit into a double barrel, and the ribs -n n may be located atthe base of the frame, and the bioecli-block B shutting iu the rear,secure it in like manner; using the Lafouchc ammunition for adouble-barrel gun constructed on the same principle. The barrel A isbanded round the charge, and the sights muy he hinged on the breech B,or on the band forward of thc breech.

supposing the several parts described -aiovc to be in the positionsshown in figs. 1 and 2, that a cartridge has been recently discharged,and that it is necessary to reload the {ire-arm :und discharge anothercartridgez'i- The operator seizes the endoi' the breech between hisfinger and thumb, compresses the springlatch so as In' unlock the saidbreech and elevates the latter. During this first movement of the breechB, its piu l traverses the segmental slotin the link D, and consequentlylhe-sliding-brccch C remains undisturbed at the rear ofthe bore ofthebarrel until the pin Zrcaches thehpper end ofthe segmental slot, and thebreech B haisl been elcviied to the position shown in fig. 2, when thebreech C is unlocked or relieved ofthe resistance of the breech B, andis at liberty to b e moved rearwards. On the further elevation of thebreech B, the breech C will, through the medium ofthe link D, be drawnback along the recess in which' it is guided in the manner described-After it has been drawn back a short distance lthe front end of itsrecess 9 will come in contact with the projection 5, iig. 5,- on theretracting-har G, which will Vconsequently be drawn back along itsgroove with the hrcechvC, drawing with it the empty cartridge-case.

As the breech Bfapproaehes the position shown in tig. 3, the bar willhave drawn the flange of the shell clear ofthe rear end of the barrelsrib n', and then the lip 2 on the breech C will come in contact with theprojection 3 of the arm,F, willsuddenly elevate the arm F, and causethel cnrtridge-case H to be projected by the said arm out of the recess,and fall or picked clear of the fire-arm. The operator now takes anothercartridge, places it on -the arm F, in the position show n in iig. 3,depresses the cartridge, and with it the arm F, into the recess. Thisdepression of the arm F imparts the first forward movement to the breechC', and the first downward movement to the breech B. The latter. is nowdepressed by hand and pushes forward the breech C', and which forcesforward both the retractor andthe cartridge until the latter is forcedinto the, rear ef the bore. The breech C has now arrived at the limitoi'` its forward movement, and 'the breech B has reached ."thei'nclinedYposition shown in iig. 2. l

During the further depression of the breech B, its pin l traverses thesegmental slot 7c of the link I), the rounded endftrt` the breech movesin contact with the hollow rear face c of the breech C, until the latteris securely locked to its place by the depression of'the breech B to theposition shown in iig. I, ready to receive the recoil strain ofthedischarge. The cartridge is then discharged by the release of thehammer, which, striking the pin P, causes the pin I to ignite thedetonate at the rear of the cartridge.

Each of the pins I I I* is retained in its proper position, andpermitted to have a limited movement by a transverse screw-pin, s, fig.5, but no springs are necessary for restoring the severa-l pins to theirproper'position aftersbeing struck by the hammer, for the followingreason: The pin I2, which passes through the solid metal of the hre-arm,will, when struck by the hammer, penetrate a short distance in theYopening of the breech B, which contains the pin I,as seen iig. 12.There is, however, a slightbevel, m, and counter-bevel 1a, at theentrance ofthe orifice in the breech B, so that when the lat-terisiraised o'r lowered, the bevels acting on the pin I2 will restore thelatter to the position it occupied prior to being struck with thehammer. The same arrangement is observed at the junction of the twobreeches where the pins I and Il coincide with each other, thecounter-bcvels here being in the breech C above the pin I; and as forthe pin I, it is of necessity pushed back on forcing the breech Cagainst the cartridge when reloading.

Until the several pins I I1 I2 properly coincide with each other theycannot serve as a medium f or communicating the blow ofthe hammer to thecartridge, vand as the pins cannot coincide with each other until thebreech B is depressed and locked, and the breech C' secure in its place,it follows that a premature discharge of the cartridge cannot takeplace.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thebreech B, with its rear face c, secured firmly in the concaved front ofthe ordinary screw-base a of the barrel by the fixed shaft or centre b,with this breech B operating thebree'ch C under the side ribs n', bymeans-of the `link D, and locking `by their facesf and e, and by theprojection d into the bore oil the barrel, all within the recess,substantially as described.

2. The detachable cheek-pieces E E, arranged for the introduction of thebreech C to and its withdrawal from the recess andthe rear of thebarrel, substantially as described.

3. The single rctracting-bar G, moving in a groove, .4, in one of thetwo opposite sides of the recess, both in loading and extracting thecartridge-shell, by the projection 5 inthe slot 9, and intercepted ateach end of the latter by the breech C', substantially as describednndshown. l

4. The stationary rear striker I2, and the breech B, and its striker Il,operating together as. described, both with and without the frontstriker I, when Vthe ends of the striker and breech-pieces are bevelled,substantially as specified.

5. The ribs n", in combination with the rear space w, and with theretraetor G, to insure the insertion oi'` 6. The combination of thebreech B, link D, breech C', retractor G, arm F, withjhc strikers,constructed and operating together successively in th`e recess, and withthe barrel, to insert, fire, withdraw, and eject the primed ammunitionor shell,las described. p

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WM. WHEELER HUBBELL..

the flange of the shell in the rear of the retractor-head 6, asdescribed.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Fos'rEn, W. J. R. Dsmnr.

